“I’m sure you did forget,” Gabriel says, “that I was bringing my girlfriend.”
Anya’s face sours as he repeats the word, and inside I’m doing a little victory dance. But still, I can’t help but feel a stab of disappointment as his mother eyes me disapprovingly. It’s obvious who she wants Gabriel to be with, and it isn’t me.
Gabriel leads me over to the bar, pouring me a glass of wine and himself a whiskey. “I’m going to need this tonight,” he sighs.
Several minutes later a servant appears in the door, announcing that dinner is served. Mrs. Maddox ushers us all into the dining room, and I belatedly realize I still haven’t seen Mr. Maddox.
“Where’s your father?” I whisper.
Gabriel shrugs. “Who knows. Working… fucking his secretary, your guess is as good as mine.”
Ouch. Okay, I’ll stay away from that subject. We find our seats at the dining table and I take a long pull of my wine as a hot plate of food appears in front of me.
“Don’t worry about Anya,” Angelina whispers beside me. “My mother is determined to shove her in Gabriel’s face. But he isn’t interested in her like that. And after tonight, I think it’s safe to say he only has eyes for you.”
I smile and clasp her hand. “Thank you.”
“What are you two whispering about over there?” Mrs. Maddox hisses.
Angelina smiles at me and then winks. “Oh, we were just talking about Gabriel’s new business venture, mother.”
Her jaw nearly drops to the floor as Gabriel groans beside me.
“What new business venture?” an older man sitting next to Gabriel asks.
“I’m starting up my own software company,” Gabriel replies coolly. “It’s in the works right now.”
“But what about Maddox Corp?” Anya shrieks across the table.
“I will be stepping down from Maddox Corp, and either Abel or Angelina may take my place if they wish.”
“That is the most ludicrous thing I’ve ever heard,” Anya states with disgust.
“Nonsense,” Mrs. Maddox cuts in, panic and embarrassment etched into her delicate features. “This is just a silly dream of his, he needs to get it out of his system. But rest assured he will remain at the company.”
Her words are ice cold, and when I glance up at Gabriel, his barely restrained pain is obvious. And it pisses me off. I don’t know his family, and I should probably stay out of it, but I can’t help myself. Nobody else is defending him.
“Well, I think Gabriel’s going to do great,” I volunteer, squeezing his hand beneath the table. “He’s smart and driven, and he knows exactly what he wants.”
Everyone around the table stares at me like I’ve sprouted three heads as Mrs. Maddox narrows her eyes in my direction. I know I’ve crossed the wrong woman, but I don’t care.
“Oh please,” she jeers, dismissing my opinion with a wave of her perfectly manicured hand. “Where do you think the money comes from, sweetheart? He sure as hell won’t be getting a dime from us if he goes through with this plan, so you can forget whatever you have in mind. I can see right through your act, you little gold digger.”
I feel like I’ve been bitten by a viper as I recoil from the pure hatred in her tone. This is Caroline Maddox, no holds barred. I haven’t even taken my first bite of food, and I feel like I’m going to vomit. I stand abruptly, nearly knocking my chair over in the process.
“I’m not interested in your money, and I’m sorry that you feel that way. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be leaving.”
I burst out the door, Gabriel hot on my heels as I scurry down the hall.
Chapter Thirteen
Victoria
The whole car ride home, Gabriel stays on his own side, brooding. He’s looking out the window, his spine rigid and unyielding as he drums his fingers across his thigh. When I try to talk to him, he simply shakes his head and tells me to wait until we get to his apartment. I feel uneasy, but try to give him his space.
Once we arrive, I briefly entertain the idea of getting a cab and heading home. But before I can even decide, he grabs me by the hand and drags me inside. He releases me as soon as he shuts the door, ambling over to the leather couch and sitting down. He watches me take off my shoes, his expression unreadable.
I can’t tell if it’s me he’s angry with because I’ve never seen him like this before. I figure I probably overstepped my boundaries by talking to his mother that way, but it couldn’t be helped. I hated seeing how she treats him.
“Come here,” Gabriel commands.
I walk to him slowly, gazing down into his stormy blue eyes. And I realize as I step closer, that it isn’t anger behind those eyes, but something else entirely. A mixture of anguish and longing. He reaches up for my hand and tugs me onto his lap, spreading my legs so that I’m straddling him. He wraps his arms around me, fisting his hands in the fabric of my dress. And then he pulls away, looking lost.